Commercials included in this TV Audio Air Check are, Jergens Woodbury beauty bar, Crosley and Bandix Home Appliances, Crosley radio and Television, and Viceroy Cigarettes.

Premiere broadcast.

June 24, 1956-December 27, 1961.
The multi-talented Steve Allen- musician, composer, singer, comedian,author- was the star of this live weekly variety series that bore a strong resemblance to his informal, late-night Tonight! Show. Although the program had elements of music and serious aspects, comedy was far and away its major component. Steve had with him one of the most versatile and talented collections of improvisational comics ever assembled. Among the features that were used at one time or another on a semi-regular basis were: "Letters to the Editor," "The Allen Report to the Nation," "Mad-Libs," "Crazy Shots," "Where Are They Now," "The Question Man," "The Allen Bureau of Standards," and "The Allen All Stars." The most frequently used feature, and by far the most memorable, was the "Man on the Street Interview." It was here that the comics on the show developed their best-remembered characters: Louis Nye as suave, smug Gordon Hathaway, Tom Poston as the man who can't remember his own name, Skitch Henderson as Sidney Ferguson, Don Knotts as the extremely nervous and fidgety Mr Morrison, Pat Harrington as Italian golf pro Guido Panzini, and Bill Dana as shy Jose Jimenez.

Broadcast from Atlantic City at Paul D'Amato's 500 Club where Martin and Lewis were originally booked as singles and started to clown together to form a history-making combination. This live telecast would be the next to last broadcast for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis before they would split for good. Their last telecast came five days later when they hosted an MD telethon from Carnegie Hall, June 29th and 30th.

Jerry Lewis is host for this variety show special on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Guests are Connie Stevens, Donald O'Connor, Richard Boone, Barry Sullivan, Art Linkletter, Jaye P. Morgan, Gogi Grant, the Wiere Brothers, Jim Backus, Johnny Mathis, Tom Tully, George Raft, and Robert Fuller. This local syndicated program was the forerunner of Lewis' annual Labor Day national telethon for The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.

Jerry Lewis steps before the TV cameras for his first special in three years. This one man show incorporates some popular routines from his night club act, a few from previous TV appearances, plus some new material.

Jerry Lewis returns for a second week as host of The Tonight Show. Included are NBC news commercials and spots for Ocean Spray, Tuck Tape, and L&M Cigarettes.
The second interregnum (2 April 1962-28 September 1962). Because of his previous contract, Jack Paar's successor, Johnny Carson, was unable to take over the show until October 1, 1962. The twenty six week gap was filled by a succession of guest hosts, most of whom stayed for a week at a time. The parade included, among others, Mort Sahl, Soupy Sales, Art Linkletter, Groucho Marx, Merv Griffin, Jerry Lewis and Arlene Francis (The first woman to guest-host the show). Hugh Downs stayed on as the announcer until August, when he succeeded John Chancellor as host of the Today show; Ed Herlihy replaced Downs on Tonight. Skitch Henderson led the band during the transition period.

Celebrity guests appeal for funds to fight Muscular Dystrophy. A letter from President John F. Kennedy is read. Jerry concludes the telethon with what would be his signature song, "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Jerry Lewis makes an unrehearsed phone call to Mr. Siegal, owner of a kosher Chicago restaurant. By far, the most hilarious of the many Steve Allen phone calls ever made and unedited as originally broadcast. In addition, there is a question and answer session with Jerry and the members of the audience.

September 21, 1963 - December 21, 1963. Jerry Lewis hosted an unprecedented two hour live variety - talk show, signing a five year deal for 35 million dollars in 1963 with ABC Television. A two hour live variety show proved to be more than even Jerry Lewis could handle. The series proved to be an enormous failure. In three months the show was off the air.
The Premiere Show. Opening 23 minutes.

Jerry Lewis winds up this series with his 13th and final show, a two man performance consisting of Jerry and Sammy Davis Jr. Del Moore is the announcer.
September 21, 1963 - December 21, 1963. Jerry Lewis hosted an unprecedented two hour live variety - talk show, signing a five year deal for 35 million dollars in 1963 with ABC Television. A two hour live variety show proved to be more than even Jerry Lewis could handle. The series proved to be an enormous failure. In three months the show was off the air, and replaced by Hollywood Palace.

#743:
OPEN END WITH DAVID SUSSKIND
1965-10-03,
WNEW,
96 min.
Jerry Lewis, David Susskind

Two part interview with Jerry Lewis, entitled, "Jerry Lewis Uncensored.” The offstage personality of the zany, funny man is revealed. Lewis discusses his background and the events that have led to his own success.

Vin Scully calls the play by play of this first annual (only time) televised softball game, pitting major league baseball players against celebrities. Jerry Lewis does the color commentary in the booth along side of Scully.

Vin Scully calls the play by play of this first annual (only time) televised softball game, pitting major league baseball players against celebrities. Jerry Lewis does the color commentary in the booth along side of Scully.
Dupe of # 6971

September 14, 1970-August 29, 1971. This was the first broadcast of the season. After a seventeen year run on CBS, Red Skelton returned to the NBC network where he began, in 1951, with a half-hour taped program. The first four broadcasts included introductions by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, Dean Martin, Jack Benny, and Johnny Carson, who received his big break writing for Skelton in the early 1950's. This would be Skelton's final year hosting a variety series. Red Skelton holds the all-time record for hosting a television variety series for twenty consecutive years (1951-1971).

Jerry Lewis is "roasted" by the Friars
Club. Roast Master Johnny Carson is joined by Milton Berle, Alan King, Jack Carter, Don Rickles, Rex Reed, and Charlie Callas, who show their affection in the traditional manner- a shower of insults.

September 11, 1967-August 9, 1978. This program is a repeat. Popular variety hour hosted by Carol Burnett. On her own show, she brought together a group of talented supporting players: Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, and Dick Van Dyke.

Ed Sullivan is host for a presentation of the most memorable segments from his former series, The Ed Sullivan Show; presenting unique, special or major performances by the most famous performers of past years, including some who made first appearances on the show or were provided with special showcasing; including: Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis, the Beatles, Nureyev and Fonteyn, the Moiseyev Ballet; Jerry Lewis as a solo, Jack Benny, segments from the show devoted to the music of Irving Berlin, Sammy Davis Jr., Alan King, Wayne and Schuster, Joan Sutherland, Shirley Verrett and many others.

August 1, 1971-September 5, 1971; December 27, 1971-May 29, 1974. "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" was introduced as a summer variety show and found a place in the network's schedule in midseason. By the 1973-1974 season it was television's top-rated variety series. Regulars included their daughter Chastity Bono, Peter Cullen, Freeman King, Teri Garr, Ted Zeigler, Billy Van, and Murray Langston.

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.

August 1, 1971-September 5, 1971; December 27, 1971-May 29, 1974. "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" was introduced as a summer variety show and found a place in the network's schedule in midseason. By the 1973-1974 season it was television's top-rated variety series. Regulars included their daughter Chastity Bono, Peter Cullen, Freeman King, Teri Garr, Ted Zeigler, Billy Van, and Murray Langston.

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.

October 21st, 1974-1980.
90-minute talk show hosted by Dinah Shore. The program was seen during the daytime in most markets. In 1979, the show was retitled "Dinah and Friends" as Dinah employed a weekly co-host. Depending on the market where the syndicated show airs, it is presented as a 90-minute show or edited to a 60-minute broadcast.

February 1, 1976-August 29, 1977. This was the first broadcast of the series. In 1976, Sonny Bono and Cher were reunited in "The Sonny & Cher Show." Regulars included Ted Zeigler, Shields and Yarnell, Billy Van, and Gailard Sartain.

Sonny & Cher mark their comeback as a television duo in this hour that also features cameo appearances by Jerry Lewis, Rona Barrett, Raymond Burr, Kate Smith, Richard Thomas, Jim Nabors, and Don Meredith.

July 3, 1974-July 24, 1974; December 4, 1974-December 28, 1976. Tony Orlando and Dawn hosted a four-week summer replacement for "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour"; the series resurfaced later that year. During the 1975-1976 season regulars included Alice Nunn, Lonnie Schorr, and Lynn Stuart. In the fall of 1976 the show was retitled "Tony Orlando and Dawn Rainbow Hour"; the regulars included George Carlin, Susan Lanier, Bob Holt, Edie McClurg, Adam Wade, and Nancy Steen.